Mike Burzawa knew what he was getting into when he left Driscoll after three straight Class 4A titles to become the head coach at Evanston 10 years ago.

“We’ve had a storied football tradition,” said Burzawa, whose predecessors at Evanston included Murney Lazier and John Riehle.

Lazier’s teams went 117-16-4 from 1958-74 with six undefeated seasons. Riehle guided the Wildkits to 10 IHSA playoff berths in 11 seasons from 1988-98.

“Murney’s Men, they reached out to me the day I took the job in 2008 and have been big supporters, to make sure we take care of the kids,” Burzawa said of the team’s boosters.

Burzawa also remembers talking with Riehle at an Evanston basketball game at the Sears Centre soon after taking over.

Those interactions made an impression on Burzawa, whose mission statement is simple: “We want to bring November football back to Evanston and return football to the glory days.”

The Wildkits are 52-49 during Burzawa’s 10-plus seasons and have qualified for the postseason seven times. But they’re still chasing the program’s first playoff win since 2003.

With a veteran team anchored by five seniors who are three-year starters, Evanston may be ready to end that drought.

“We’ve got to put ourselves in a better position, not go to a 1 or 2 seed at their house (in the first round),” Burzawa said.

The Wildkits couldn’t be in a better position as they head into a Week 5 home date with perennial power Maine South in a Central Suburban South opener.

They’re 4-0 and coming off one of the program’’s biggest wins in years: 32-13 on the road over a Barrrington team that beat Maine South the week before.

Several of those three-year starters played starring roles against Barrington.

Defensive back Trenton Bertrand had an interception, safety Michael Axelrood recovered a fumble, wide receiver/defensive back Gerrad Lamour caught a touchdown pass and Malik Ross scored three TDs — two rushing and one receiving.